Idiots, stolen cars, & how I almost killed someone yesterday.

Our little big city is growing up & becoming more the urban jungle.

I heading home from work yesterday. Just as I was passing Lewis Eastgate some black kid ran out of nowhere across 10th street almost getting hit by every car in all four lanes, {including mine}. After his passing about 18" in front of my bumper I then heard the sirens.

I looked over to see a cycle cop & patrol vehicle with another cycle cop a block away. As I then looked into the parking lot of the drugstore the only thing I could think of was cowboys rounding up stray cattle. I later found out the kid stole a car, crashed it while attempting to flee from the PD, then decided to run.

Things like this are why I choose to live here in Sioux Falls.

WHY You ask?

Because that crap is not supposed to happen here.

www.argusleader.com/ STORY LINK

Teens charged with car theft, eluding police

August 4, 2006, 2:55 am

Two teenagers were arrested Thursday afternoon for driving a stolen car and fleeing police.

A boy, 17, driving a stolen 2004 Pontiac Grand Am was charged with aggravated eluding, reckless driving and possession of a stolen vehicle, police Sgt. David Osterquist said. His passenger, 13, was charged with fleeing a police officer.

Officer Doug Flora spotted the car in the right-turn-only lane at Sixth Street and Weber Avenue at 1:24 p.m. When the car sped forward instead, Flora tried to pull it over. A low-speed chase ensued for 10 blocks before the driver jumped onto the curb and slid to a stop at Austin Street and Sherman Avenue, Osterquist said.

The driver nearly hit another vehicle by running a red light at Eighth Street to turn north onto Cliff Avenue, he said.

The teenagers fled, and police said they caught the driver in the Lewis Drug parking lot at 10th Street and Cliff Avenue.

The younger boy was found 30 to 45 minutes later when a resident in the 200 block of North Van Eps Avenue found the boy sleeping on the home's rear deck and called 911, Osterquist said.

The car was reported stolen from the 600 block of North Marquette Avenue at 8:11 a.m. Thursday, he said.

- Melanie Brandert, Argus Leader